Muscat – His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on Thursday issued Royal Decree No 50/2026 establishing an Artificial Intelligence Special Zone in the Governorate of Muscat.

The zone aims to promote investment in the knowledge economy and accelerate innovation projects in line with the 11^th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) and Oman Vision 2040. It will support economic diversification and the expansion of the digital economy.

According to decree, the Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) will appoint the entity responsible for managing, operating and developing the zone, in coordination with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.

Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Chairman of OPAZ, said the initiative aligns with national efforts to boost economic diversification and position Oman as a regional centre for advanced technologies. “Establishment of the zone represents a step forward in the transition towards a digital economy and reinforces Oman’s role in advanced technology sectors,” he said.

The zone will be developed on an area of about 104,000sqm in Seeb, adjacent to the Civil Aviation Authority headquarters. It will be subject to the Special Economic Zones and Free Zones Law, granting investors incentives and exemptions stipulated under the legislation.

Al Yousef said the zone will target sectors including semiconductors, robotics and related industries, while supporting supply chain integration with other areas under OPAZ supervision. Projects established in the zone will benefit from facilities aimed at attracting local and international technology firms, including startups.

He added that OPAZ, in cooperation with the ministry, has begun preparing an executive roadmap covering governance, organisational structure, investment policies and performance indicators to ensure alignment with national priorities.

Saeed bin Hamood Al Mawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, said the decree reflects continued support for the digital economy. “The Artificial Intelligence Special Zone will be a key project under the National Digital Economy Programme and a destination for AI startups from Oman and the region,” he said.

Maawali said the zone will provide an integrated platform for AI companies to scale and access regional markets, in partnership with OPAZ.

With the new zone, the number of areas supervised by OPAZ rises to 24. New investments in these zones was RO1.4bn in 2025, taking total committed investment to RO22.4bn, a 6.8% increase compared to the end of 2024.